The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-11-15

MUCH Ln6 same CnAIdctoTb auu pIOuuCo
similar results
Recent investigations have proved
that they are all parasitic and due to
various kinds of fungi, which can be di-
vided into classes, but which so far arc
not clearly understood, and which may
in reality be more closely related than
has been hitherto supposed, and in some
es may be identical. although found
upon different plants. As an example
of the present unsatisfactory stage OF
our knowledge in regard to these dis
eases, it may be shown how some years
ago it was believed that the rust OF the
barberry was easil, communicated to
wheat; some years after this was en-
phatically denied. and now the old
opinion of their identity is revived.
The rusts of blackberry and Of wheat
are supposed to be distinct and differ
emit, but we have found them to appear
precisely alike in every respect, even
to the presence of an accompanying
mite which feeds upon the spores on
both plants, and have proved beyond
what we think reasonable doubt that
rust of one plant will affect the other.
thus clearly pointing to. ifnot proving.
their identity.
Enough, however, of these forms OF
plant diseases is known to give us a
useful understanding OF their nature
and some indication of the means OF
preservation. That they bear close
analogy to some parasitic diseases OF
animals is also known. They are con-
tagious; some are accompanied and
produced by minute organisms known
as bacteria or other similar parasitic
plants of very low order of life. but
which will multiply with amazing ra-
pidity and soon take possession of and
consume Qiterally and actually their
victims, by disorganizing and feeding
upon their substance; and they are all
destroyed by sulphur or preparations
of it which have an acrid or antiseptic
! character.
The most recent discoveries in regard
to these blights 60 to show that they
appear only in plants upon which they
are sown, or which are sown In soil
sown with their seeds, and that they
mostly affect plants whose vigor and
vitality have been weakened by some
deficiency of food or some unfavorable
condition of soil or weather. Thus, q
wet season in which fogs are followed
by very hot sunshine furnishes very
favorable conditions for the growth OF
rust upon wheat and smut upon corn
and oats. Infertility of soil tends to
the growth of rust upon blackberries.
Wheat which has been smutted one
year, if sown the next will produce a
smutted crop. The same Is true OF corn.
and potatoes grown from seed from a
previous years rotted crop will be af-
fected by rot If the season is at all
favorable for the growth of the fungus
which causes it. Fellows has been
produced In peaches by burying dis
eased branches and leaves among the
roots of healthy trees, and has ap-
peared also in trees grown in soil that
is deficient in potash, while the addi'
ton of potash and lime has caused
plum and cherry trees badly affected
with black rust to recover and regain
perfect health. It has also been found
that sulphate Of copper in solution in
water destroys the spores of the rust
and smut in wheat and oats, the smut
of corn, the rot Of potatoes, the black
rot of grapes, and by analogy will
probably have useful effect in similal
cases with other plants. This fact il
pertinent to the preparation for thu
sowing of fall wheat, for it is vel
proved that if the seed be stepped in {
solution of four ounces OF sulphate o.
copper to a gallon of water for eacl
five bushels, the spores of the rust ad
. herring to the seeds will be destroyed
and the young plant will be impreg
mated with the solution as to offer M
favorable conditions for the entrance
of the parasite from the soil. TIL,
same treatment saves oats and corn ant
potatoes from the smut and rot; bu
while this remedy is useful in some
cases, in others the adequate fertilizin:
of the soil must be secured to give suf
!. ficient vigor to the plants to resist tn
invader The most needed nutrimen
for this result seems to be mineral, ant
lime, potash and phosphoric acid hav,
been found most effective to ward OF
the attacks of parasites from frui
. trees as well as grains.-M Y. Times
a Good Deal in Name.